Michigan Town Decides To Fire Its Fire Department To Save Cash

Allen Park, Michigan plans to lay off its entire fire department
this year in order to close a $600,000 budget shortfall.

The Detroit suburb sent layoff notices to all 25 fire department
employees this week,
the Detroit News reports. The police force could face cuts
too, as Allen Park needs to lay off up to 30 workers before the
fiscal year ends in June.

Allen Park has not yet figured out how it will provide public
safety services after the fire department is eliminated.
Communities across the Detroit metropolitan area are struggling
to provide services in the face of declining revenues and a
shrinking tax base.